Level of evidence:
Frequently asked questions about blood sugar and hunger after a meal
How long after eating is blood sugar highest?
Most often within the hour after the start of the meal, then it returns to its starting level within 2 to 3 hours (International Diabetes Federation, 2011). A sugary meal rises faster and higher; a meal with protein, fiber and fat rises less and more slowly.
Why do you get hungry soon after a sugary meal?
After a very sugary meal, insulin rises sharply and blood sugar comes down quickly. The hunger hormone (ghrelin), meanwhile, rises over the hours until the next meal (Cummings, 2001): the urge to eat comes back fast.
When does the hunger hormone rise again after a meal?
Ghrelin falls in the hour after the meal, then rises gradually and peaks just before the usual time of the next meal (Cummings, 2001).
Why does protein keep you full longer?
Protein and fat make the gut release satiety hormones such as GLP-1, which slow stomach emptying and calm appetite (Holst, 2007).